FOOD, WATER AND CLIMATE
Connected challenges.
Shared decisions.
Decisions about food production, water use and emissions are connected. These results show how CGIAR evidence is helping governments and partners weigh the trade-offs and put that evidence into plans, guidance and practice.
Explore the stories
Agriculture and water evidence informs global adaptation indicators
Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT; ILRI
CGIAR scientists contributed expertise on food, agriculture and water to the process behind the 59 adaptation indicators adopted by Parties at COP30. The indicators give countries a common way to track progress across sectors.
Cambodia's climate plan connects rice and aquatic food adaptation
IRRI; WorldFish
Cambodia's national climate plan includes low-emission rice approaches associated with IRRI and fisheries and aquaculture adaptation options to which WorldFish contributed. The plan brings food production and climate goals into one national framework.
Direct-seeded rice shows water and emissions benefits in Viet Nam
IRRI
In Viet Nam, a dry direct-seeding prototype demonstrated up to 50% water savings and 30% lower greenhouse gas emissions. Separately, 17 pilot fields across four provinces showed higher nutrient-use efficiency than conventional practice.
Ethiopia puts site-specific fertilizer advice into extension
Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT; ICRISAT
Ethiopia's Ministry of Agriculture and national researchers built fertilizer guidance from more than 2,700 on-farm trials. The national extension service used it to reach 49,000 farmers in 2025, replacing blanket advice with recommendations suited to local conditions.
Kenya measures methane from its own rangeland cattle
ILRI
ILRI measured 1,486 cattle across three southern Kenyan rangeland sites to develop system-specific emission factors. Compared with IPCC defaults, emissions were up to 28% lower in Maasai pastoral herds and 18% higher on a semi-arid research ranch. The evidence can give Kenya a more accurate basis for reporting and targeting livestock emissions.
Local stakeholders shape landscape priorities in India
CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes; IFPRI
In Akole, Maharashtra, the Vision-to-Action approach supported stakeholders in developing a shared vision and practical actions for sustainable landscape management. The process connects farming, environmental and livelihood priorities, helping participants agree who needs to act, where and when.
Research explores how digital models can support landscape decisions
CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes; IFPRI; Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Research examines how digital models linked to satellite observations and other data can help decision-makers compare options for water allocation, irrigation, drought management and biodiversity protection. It identifies practical applications for landscape planning, including approaches suited to places with limited data.
Rwanda draws on climate-smart evidence for its agriculture strategy
IFPRI
Rwanda's 2025–2030 agriculture strategy drew on IFPRI research, including climate-smart agriculture modeling. The government set the strategy using evidence developed with research partners.
Shared-river guidelines make room for more voices
CGIAR Policy Innovations
Guidelines for the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission set out how farmers, civil society and businesses can participate in decisions about water shared across borders.
Viet Nam brings rice-emissions measurement into national guidelines
IRRI
The IRRI-developed RiceMoRE digital monitoring platform was transferred to Viet Nam's government and integrated into national guidance for measuring and reporting rice emissions. RiceMoRE enables authorities to improve production forecasting, monitor cropping patterns, and strengthen transparency in rice emissions reporting.
CGIAR AT COP31
Explore the other themes
Country-led climate action
See how national and local partners turn climate priorities into action.
Building resilience before shocks
Explore how evidence helps people prepare for climate risks and protect livelihoods.
